Michael Clarke Duncan filmography and biography
Date of birth: 10 December 1957, Chicago, Illinois, USA
Michael Clarke Duncan biography
Raised by his single mother on Chicago's South Side, Michael grew up resisting drugs and alcohol, instead concentrating on school. He wanted to play football in high school, but his mother wouldn't let him, fearing he would get hurt. He then turned to acting, dreaming of becoming a famous actor. After graduating from high school and attending community college, he worked digging ditches at Peoples Gas Company in Chicago. When he quit his job and headed to Hollywood, he landed small roles while working as a bodyguard. Michael's role in the movie Armageddon (1998/I) led to his breakthrough performance in The Green Mile, when his Armageddon co-star Bruce Willis called director Frank Darabont, suggesting Michael for the part of convict John Coffey. He landed the role, receiving critical acclaim for his performance.
Michael Clarke Duncan trivia
- Supposedly gives five dollars to anyone who recognizes him on the street
and knows what his full name is.
- Considered becoming a police officer with the LAPD, which was revealed
during an interview on Live with Regis and Kathie Lee.
- Attended Alcorn State University in Mississippi, but dropped out to
support his family when his mother became ill. Has an older sister,
Judith. Worked as a security guard for a theatre troupe.
- Played basketball at Kankakee Community College. After college, spent
several years digging ditches for the gas company in Chicago.
- Did bodyguard work for Will Smith (I),
Martin Lawrence (I), Jamie Foxx, LL Cool J, and
The Notorious B.I.G.; he let a friend take over for him the
night Notorious B.I.G. got shot, which prompted him to quit that line
of work.
- For his role as the criminal mastermind behemoth Kingpin in
Daredevil, Clarke put on 40 lbs. to his already largely
built physique.
- While filming The Scorpion King, was accidentally hit by
Dwayne Johnson (I) during a fight sequence. He leaned in too far
for a hit, and his chin connected with The Rock's elbow.
- He tried out for the Chicago Bears in the mid 1980s. He wanted to try
out at for one of the linebacker postions, but the coaches chose to see
how he would be perform at Tightend.
- Has appeared in 4 films with Bruce Willis
Armageddon (1998/I), Breakfast of Champions,
The Whole Nine Yards and Sin City.
- Narrates the 2005 Major League Baseball World Series Film, featuring the
2005 World Champion Chicago White Sox.
- Ran onto the field and slid into third base during the Disco Demolition
Night fiasco at Comiskey Park on July 12, 1979.
- His Daredevil character, Wilson Fisk/Kingpin, first appeared as an enemy
of Spiderman until Frank Miller (II) made him a major enemy of
Daredevil. Duncan has played him opposite both characters, and as both
a white man in the animated series Spider-Man and a
black man in Daredevil.
- Has five cats.
- Has one chinchilla, "Chucky".
- Is a blue belt in Brazilian JuJutsu.
- Moonlighting as a bouncer and guard at various clubs on Chicago's South
Side, he met one of the producers of the touring stage show, "Beauty
Shop, Part 2" and was hired as the producer's personal security.
Although he often asked for the opportunity to act in the play, the
producer never gave him the chance.
Michael Clarke Duncan quotes
- My sister [Judith] used to say I had a frail chest and she'd beat me up
all the time.